The opportunity to join the NHL’s newest club has been an interesting one for Winnipeg forwards Cody Eakin and Brendan Leipsic.

KEN WIEBE

LAS VEGAS – Cody Eakin initially had some mixed feelings about the prospect of a new hockey home, but came around quickly.

Brendan Leipsic was ready for a change and embraced it immediately after finding out he’d been chosen by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft.

The opportunity to join the NHL’s newest club has been an interesting one for the forwards from Winnipeg.

Their roads getting to this point were vastly different.

Eakin, 26, was chosen in the third round (85th overall) by the Washington Capitals in 2009 and grew into a prominent role with the Dallas Stars after being traded there in 2012, while Leipsic was chosen in the third round (89th overall) by the Nashville Predators in 2012 and found success in the minors with the Toronto Marlies after being acquired by the Maple Leafs in February of 2015.

Eakin produced a career-high 19 goals and 40 points with the Stars during the 2014-15 season, but dipped to 35 points the following season and was limited to three goals and 12 points in 60 games last season (when he dealt with injuries and missed 20 games. “I knew there was going to be an odd man out, so it was lingering in my head a little bit,” said Eakin, who has two goals and seven points in 15 games this season. “But here now, it’s definitely a new chapter, a new phase. I’ve been having a fantastic time down here at the rink, away from the rink. Good group of guys, everyone’s new here, everyone’s having fun together, really bonding and stuff. It’s been nothing but the best so far and I’m excited to continue it.”

Leipsic, 23, put up big numbers with the Marlies, but was limited to six games (one goal, three points) with the Maple Leafs – who have brought up a number of players from the minors during the past two seasons.

He was clearly ready for a shot with another team.

“I was hoping to (be chosen in the expansion draft). I was kind of getting boxed out in Toronto a little bit, with a lot of the young players they have,” said Leipsic. “I knew there was going to be an opportunity somewhere else, wherever that might be. I’m glad it was Vegas.”

Leipsic found some early success, chipping in four assists in eight games, but he’s been in and out of the lineup lately and doesn’t have any points since.

“Things started off pretty well for me. As of late, I’ve kind of been on the outside looking in,” said Leipsic. “I’m waiting for my opportunity, staying patient, staying positive. I’ve been in worse places than being an extra in Las Vegas. I’m just enjoying every day and when I get my chance, I’ll be ready.”

The Golden Knights are off to a strong start, which has instilled some belief in this group.

“We’re working hard. We’re a competitive group,” said Leipsic. “If you watch every night, we don’t really take shifts off. We don’t really have many of the high-end names that you might see on other teams, but in all three zones, we work as a five-man unit and that’s how we’re going to be successful.

“We’re all good hockey players in here and we have skill, but you have to put hard work first. A lot of guys are in different situations. There are some older guys trying to prove themselves again and some younger guys who are trying to solidify themselves, like myself, as a full-time NHLer. We’ve got a good mix of guys and a lot of guys have a chip on their shoulders. We’ve got a lot of good people in this locker room and it’s been good to start off pretty well. It’s a fun team to play for and everybody plays for each other out there. That’s why we’re having success right now.”

As enjoyable as things have been on the ice, the tragic shootings in Las Vegas on Oct. 1 hit home with all Golden Knights players – especially since some of the players were at the outdoor concert on Friday, just two days before the devastation occurred. “That was pretty scary. We were all kind of around there having dinner,” said Eakin. “Lots of people knew different people indirectly who were affected by it. Of course we all were affected being a new team here. But we were able to help out the community a little bit, donate some time. I think our job is just to help the city mend and we did that a little bit when times were tough. I think our hockey, starting off so well, it gave us motivation to help mend the city.”

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